New loop puts skills in top gear
A new loop to be launched this weekend (Sat 30th Sept) at the famous 7stanes Dalbeattie Hardrock trail aims to improve riding skills and help bring new people into mountain biking. The short skills loop gives mountain bikers a taster of some of the features that they may come across on the full-length trails found at Dalbeattie. The loop is aimed at both beginners and experts with different graded sections for each. The easier green and blue sections of the loop will give riders a chance to try out mountain biking for the first time and also an opportunity to improve their bike handling skills on a range of features including small drop offs, berms, and rock gardens. For the more experienced, there are red and black sections which concentrate on some of Dalbeattie's famous and tough granite rock features. The plan is also to build a centrepiece raised timber trail 'North Shore' section for experts to test their bike balancing skills on. Top Scottish cross country mountain biker Gareth Montgomerie is to join forces with the 7stanes team in launching the new skills loop as part of the Junior Hardrock Challenge duathalon which is to take place in Dalbeattie forest on Saturday. The duathalon has been organised by the Dalbeattie Community Initiative and is a run and mountain bike challenge for youngsters. Julie Cartner of the 7stanes said: "The 7stanes Dalbeattie Hardrock trail has gained a reputation for its challenging rides and tricky granite trail features but there's still loads of riding for beginners of all ages. "The new skills loop is a great way for first timers to try out mountain biking or for experts to hone their skills before tackling harder sections of trail out in the forest. Either way, the loop is a lot of fun and well worth a try. "The Dalbeattie Community Initiative has done wonders in promoting the 7stanes trails through their events and the Junior Hardrock Challenge looks like a really fun way to get more youngsters into mountain biking." There are two categories in the races, 8-11 year olds will compete over a 500 metre run and a 3km bike section and the older 12-15s will run for 2km and bike for 5 miles. The younger competitors will begin their race at 11am with the older group starting at midday. Competitors can enter individually and do both the run and bike sections, or in a team with one runner and one cyclist. Entry fee is £1.50 solo and £2.50 for a team. For entry forms, contact Graham Platt at the Dalbeattie Community Initiative on 01556 612 518 or email grahamp@dcinitiative.fsnet.co.uk or log on to www.dalbeattiehardrockchallenge.org www.forestry.gov.ukLatest news
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